Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-05-27

term, bat resigned after serving
one year. He was the represent
alive of his district in the Con-
gress which expired IN March, ls43.
Under the reepportionment Of tEat year
the district wes.so arranged IS to give it
large Wing majority. Mr.. Saith then
removed to Warrenton and resumed
active work in his profession. IN letter
written three years ago Governor Smith
thus describes his first election as Gov
ernor of the Old Dominion; Everything
was going well with me, when, in Deem
her, 1S4E, having just returned from one
of my courts, 1 was addressed by ore of
my friends as Governor Smith. l asked
him what he mesnt by thus addressing
me. He said that was the Governor elect
of Virginia. I replied that l trusted
it was not so, but SO it proved.
The Legislature at that time
elected our Governor, and, without
having the idea suggested to me by hu-
man being, found myself elected Gov
ernor for three years from January l,
| 1885, The salary was wholly inadequate
to support the proper hospitalities OF the
position. had no private fortune to sup
ply the deficiency, and public opinion
would not allow the Governor to practice
that they had placed me in cruel diem
ma; that wanted bread and they gave me
stone; that should have to decline the
high position to which they had elected
me. There was no help for it. But l did
accept, served out my term and returned
to my home" In April, 1850, Gov
ernor Smith sailed for California, and
on reaching San Francisco announced
himself ready for legal practice. He was
without previous notice to him or solicit
tation on his part made president of the
first Democratic state convention held in
the new state. David Broderick, after
ward United States Senator from Cali
fornia, became jealous of Mr.. Smiths in
fuence in the party. The quarrel resulted
in duel between Broderick and James
Caleb Smith, son Of the Governor, who
had preceded hi father IN emigTating to
the new Eldorado. 1t took place at Sac
ramento and was witnessed by 5000 peO-
pie, Governor Smith being one of the
spectators. According to the rules
Of the code each was to sur
render al articles from his pockets,
Broderick, drawing his watch from his
fob pocket, offered to surrender that if
Smith so desired, but Smith intimating
that it was lmmaterial, Broderick re
stored it to his fob. Smith put four balls
through 8roderick's watch and cut the
chain With another. Smith was I'M
touched and Broderick uniniured. The
watch was hung up in public place in
Sacramento. Governor Smith returned
to Virginia in the autumn of 1852. In
March, 1858, he was elected to Congress
and served four successive terms. In
June, 1861, he was commissioned colonel
of the Forty-Seventh Virginia Confed-
crate Volunteers, and was soon after
elected from his camp 8 men,
Der OF the Confederate Congress,
in which he served one session, resigning
in May, 1862, to return to his military
command, being soon after promoted as
brigadier and major general. In 1863 ne
was elected by the people Governor for
term of four years, from January l., 1864.
Since the war he has served one term in
the State House of Delegates for special
purpose. At the advanced age Of sixty
three ne entered the Confederate service
and among host OF brave men distIn-
guished himself signaIly by his GOODNESS,
and bravery on the battle field !
He will be long remembered as one Of the
most remarkable men Of the century.